On The Set: Ghostbusters (2016)

On The Set: Ghostbusters (2016)

It's been a trend recently with huge blockbusters to proliferate the internet with set photos during production. Suicide Squad has proven to be the leakiest set of all time with spy photos coming from the set almost daily. In the story of the new Ghostbusters movie it has been director Paul Feig's decision to control and decide what photos get out to the public. As one of the biggest Ghostbusters fans everything that I've see has been amazing. The heart and soul of the original is alive and well on the new set. Inevitably there has been a lot of hate directed toward the new project and toward Paul Feig because change is always feared. So let's take a look at all the photos that have been released and also at a couple tweets showing how Feig is handling the negativity.

  

Melissa McCarthy and Kate McKinnon in costume. Kate has bodily fluids all over her.

Up close shot of Melissa and Kate on set. Melissa just farted and Kate loves it.

Kristen Wiig is shocked as one man forcefully gives another zerberts.

Kristen eyeing the food truck for lunch.

The Boston Herald recently got their hands on the alleged plot synopsis for the movie. It seems rough but I can definitely see it making it on-screen, here it is: 

"Wiig and McCarthy play a pair of unheralded authors who write a book positing that ghosts are real. Flash forward a few years and Wiig lands a prestigious teaching position at Columbia U. Which is pretty sweet, until her book resurfaces and she is laughed out of academia. Wiig reunites with McCarthy and the other two proton pack-packing phantom wranglers, and she gets some sweet revenge when ghosts invade Manhattan and she and her team have to save the world."

The new ghost busting uniforms. Bustin' makes me feel good.

Melissa letting another fart out of her uniform hoping no one notices. 

All four new Ghostbusters, now with more Leslie Jones!

Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

The new Ecto 1. Funeral home approved!

Ecto 1's belfie.

New proton packs. Can strain pasta in a pinch.

Shot of the new Ghostbusters headquarters. They are obviously going to have to deal with a rat problem.

Ghostbusters X-treme?

Paul Feig confirming that the cast will be getting covered in spectral fluids.

Yes, Feig can see all your stupid ass troll tweets...

...and he doesn't give a f@#$!

Ghostbustsers comes out on July 22, 2016. I have a very strong feeling we will get our first trailer when the Goosebumps movie releases in October, it just makes sense (both are Sony movies). Keep checking back because when that releases we will have a trailer breakdown.

-Demo

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Opinion Alert: Ghostbusters Reboot(s)

So, needless to say, not everyone is happy about the new Ghostbusters movie(s) that are coming out. A lot of people are hating on the upcoming films just because they don't want a new Giostbusters cast. Other people are upset because it's an all female cast (for one of the movies). And others (like myself) aren't happy with the cast or director they've hired. 

First off, let's look at the all female Ghostbusters movie. It's got Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, The Heat) at the helm. For the cast we got Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones. 

Kristen Wiig is reliable when it comes to carrying a comedy, no problem there. And personally, I'm unfamiliar with Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones. Paul Feig is hit and miss as far as I'm concerned. 

The problem I have here is with Melissa McCarthy. She's become a huge Hollywood success the last few years. I enjoyed her in Bridesmaids, and that's about it. And I know I'm not alone here. Her schtick has gotten old, and unless she can prove to have more to offer, she's go the way of Jack Black and Zach Galifianakis. 

I'm more than open to all female Ghostbusters movie. But it would need  a good cast and some talent behind the camera, just like any other movie. Who would you cast in a all female Ghostbusters?

Let's talk about what could have been, or at least what I would have liked to have seen happen. First off, yes, Gillian Anderson.  She seems to have comedic side that hasn't been fully utilized in anything else. She could be the "Egon" of the new cast as well as guide a team of younger busters of ghosts. She also expressed interest in the female Ghostbusters movie once she got word of it. 

Next up, Retta. She's hilarious, and has just come off 7 seasons of Parks and Rec. She's got sass, could definitely help carry a concept comedy. 

Have you watched Broad City? No? Then you probably don't know Abbi Jacobson.  And that's unfortunate for you. The show is a force to be reckoned with and so is she. Jacobson and her co-star, Ilana Glazer, are sure to only get bigger in the comedy community. 

Chelsea Peretti regularly steals the show on FOX's Brooklyn Nine Nine. She also is a great stand up comedienne. She's popped up in a lot shows and is poised to hit the next level of entertainment. 

Next, Aubrey Plaza. Like Retta, she's just come off of Parks and Recreation. Any film studio looking to make a hit comedy should want her in their corner. 

And lastly, Cecily Strong. She's already cast in the movie, but not as a Ghostbuster. Which is a crime. She's currently killing it at Weekend Update on SNL, and needs to be rewarded for it. 

Those are my suggestions for the female Ghostbuster movie. Let's move on to the male-centered installment. Already announced is that it will be directed by Joe and Anthony Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier). And it will be produced by Dan Aykroyd and Ivan Reitman (the original Ghostbusters director). And it's rumored to be starring Channing Tatum and Chris Pratt. I've already spoke on my thoughts on them for this project in a previous article, so I'm  going to leave them alone here. Let's talk about who could fill out that cast....

Let's start with Donald Glover. He helped make Community a phenomal comedy show, even though he's moved on to focus on other projects. He's been rumored/campaigned for the Miles Morales/Spider-Man role, but that doesn't seem to be happening. Let's put him to use on this action/horror/concept comedy.

If you've seen Cabin in the Woods, you know Fran Kranz. He's had several roles in a lot of comedies, but as yet to "break out". He could have a lot to offer a project like this. 

I'll rope John Cho and Kal Penn in together. Best known for the Harold and Kumar movies, they've both known a lot of success and failures. John Cho currently enjoys being Sulu in the new Star Trek movies, and Kal Penn is on the new Vince Gilligan (Breaking Bad) show, Battle Creek. I'd like to see them both back in comedies, and Ghostbusters could show that, despite the hit and miss nature of the Harold & Kumar movies, they both have a lot to offer the comedy world. 

And TJ Miller. He's in HBO's Silicon Valley, a show that is a true treasure. He's been in a number of other comedies, and could be a big hit in a movie like Ghostbusters. 

Lastly, Paul Rudd. I'd watch him in anything. He'd be a smart choice if a studio wanted to hire some lesser known talent for the rest of the cast. 

But most importantly, the talent behind the camera. Joe and Anthony Russo have a lot experience in comedy (Arrested Development, Community). But who'd be a good fit for the female Ghostbusters? Michael Schur (Parks and Rec), James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy), Tina Fey(30 Rock, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt)? Who would you want?

Yes, I left off names like Seth Rogen and James Franco. I've enjoyed their movies, but let's see what other people can do. 

The female Ghostbusters movie has gotten A LOT of hate, for various reasons. If people don't care for it because it's all female, that's unfortunate. If you have a valid concern, then let's have a debate. I won't defend the cast or crew of the Paul Feig Ghostbusters, but I do hope their movie wins me over. 

Leave your thoughts and suggestions below, it's the Internet and you're entitled to your opinion!

-Lando McFly

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Who Ya Gonna Call Now?

News/rumors that has been breaking recently suggest that ANOTHER Ghostbusters movie is in the works.  This one separate from the Paul Feig directed film with an all female cast. But these two films would share a cinematic universe (Hey, that's what the Avengers are doing!), and possibly lead to a team up movie. But who would be in this mew movie you ask ....

That's right, Chris Pratt and Channing Tatum.  Most people will surely be happy to hear Pratt's name, but Tatum might need to win people over for this kind of project. To be fair, Tatum has proven his comedic chops in the 21 Jump Street movies, so he at least deserves a chance. And Pratt is awfully busy already, being attached to franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy and Jurassic World. As well as being rumored for a new Indiana Jones. He's definitely Hollywood's "IT" boy right now.

This new Ghostbusters film is said to directed and produced by Joe and Anthony Russo, the duo behind Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Not only that, but it will also have former Ghostbuster star/writer Dan Aykroyd and director Ivan Reitman both as producers. I'm sold right there. 

No word on dates for filming or release, but will it be after the female Ghostbusters comes out. Is this too much Ghostbusters? Does it take away from the one we were already getting? Or should we be excited we're getting a Ghostbusters without Melissa McCarthy? 

All of this is just rumor so far, but also hasn't been denied. Also, no word on any return of Slimer (fingers crossed). 

-Lando McFly

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Settle the Score - Ghostbusters by Elmer Bernstein

Hello, and welcome to my new recurring series! In “Settle the Score,” I’ll be listening to and reviewing movie scores of the past and present. But first, a little primer.

Unlike a Motion Picture Soundtrack, which are compilations of existing or newly produced songs “from or inspired by” a movie, Original Movie Scores are composed and performed by an orchestra to play along with a movie, adding dramatic, suspenseful, romantic, dangerous, scary, and much more effect for the viewer. In my opinion, without scores movies would be quite flat – just a bunch of people talking and maybe a random explosion or car chase out of nowhere. As a classically trained musician through primary and secondary schooling, music is a huge part of my appreciation of the numerous movies I was raised on – and that’s something I’ve taken into my professional life, as well as my art. This recurring series will not be for the laymen. Period. So we need to get on the same page before I can move on to the topic. That said, I have a bone to pick before we get started on our selection…

Let me set one thing straight. Basically, the general term “theme” is tossed around mindlessly and interchangeably for multiple individual parts of musical composition by people who either can’t or choose not to do a little digging to actually say exactly what they mean; they say “theme” when they actually mean “motif” or “title song.” (I’ll get to these EXTREME differences in just a second…) “Theme music” is actually defined as a piece written specifically for a radio or television program, game, or movie, played during the title sequence or intro and/or end credits. Now, with a definition like that you can see why the term is used as a general category, because it can be relatively easy to confuse this term by simply forgetting it’s primary aspect. When you hear the same notes from the theme at the beginning of your movie later on in the movie itself, that’s not the theme! Further, a “theme song” is theme music with lyrics; a “title song” is a theme song named for the title of the work (think James Bond); and a “signature song” is one or a few songs that a popular/well-established singer or band is most closely identified with or best-known for – which really isn’t related to movie scores at all! Got all of that so far? Then let’s get to my point so we can move on.

What the laymen music reviewer actually means when they say “theme” is often one of two different somewhat-related terms; motif and leitmotif. But what are they, and if they’re different, how? Well, a motif is a short musical idea, recurring figure, musical fragment or succession of notes; to give the best example, think the four-note figure from Beethoven’s 5^th Symphony, or the ten-note “Curse” phrase often used in early horror and cartoons where the character is tiptoeing around in a haunted house. Now, a leitmotif is a short, constantly recurring music phrase associated with a particular person, place or idea (also related to musical terms idée fixe and motto-theme). Literally translated from German, this term means “leading motif,” but can be more accurately translated as “guiding motif” as its recurrence brings the listener as well as the music in the direction of intended flow by its repeated presence. Your best examples are as numerous as there are stars in the night sky! There are hundreds of leitmotifs throughout Howard Shore’s scores for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies - the easiest to identify here is the eight-note figure for The One Ring, or the “Empire March” every time Darth Vader appears on screen in the original Star Wars trilogy. Hopefully you’re with me on this now, so this concludes your music theory lesson for this week. My apologies for the mini-rant there, now on to what we are really here for!

Even after 30 years, "Bustin' makes me feel good!" 

Celebrating the 30^th anniversary of the release of arguably one of THE greatest movies of all time, cinemas nationwide have re-released Ghostbusters in an updated high definition format for one week only, starting August 29, 2014! This movie is near and dear to many of us at NGP, so this is a perfect opportunity to showcase its brilliance, and focus on one of its lesser-celebrated aspects – Elmer Bernstein’s ethereal score.

Who you gonna call?

Bernstein’s score has a few motifs that run throughout that almost serialize what’s happening on screen. From the lighthearted first track of the score, “Ghostbusters Theme” that it's bits can be heard often throughout the score in various iterations, the triumphant yet 80’s-cheesy infomercial-esque “We Got One!” (which also features the three-bar phrase from “Ghostbusters Theme”), to 5-note medium fanfare used to showcase Gozer in the track “Cross Rip,” and the eerie warbles used for any ghosts or paranormal elements. Flowing into tracks like "Venkman" and "Dana's Theme" we hear strings and woodwinds playing light, airy phrases the likes of suites we've come to expect to be penned by Vivaldi, Stravinsky, and Holst. But there's something more to be heard in these tracks, something that gives the listener the feeling for something…spooky, but what is it?

I was interested to find out how Bernstein was able to create most of the droning and warbling, oscillating sounds in this score, and was surprised to find that it wasn’t created the way I anticipated! Sounding similar to a Theremin, (think original series Star Trek theme music) in which the player (a thereminist) controls oscillations by varying the position of their hands over vertical (frequency) and horizontal (amplitude) antennae simultaneously, Bernstein actually used a far-lesser known instrument, the Ondes Martenot. The original electronic musical instrument, the Ondes is sort of like a pre-electric keyboard-type mini-organ in which the musician can vary tones, sustains, and create eerie effects by pressing on pedals, moving sliders and pressing the large button on an on-board modulator, while sliding a strange metal ring over oscillation tubes; all of which alter not only tonal pitches but pitch frequencies and oscillations as well. It’s pretty cool, and a shame that "Ondests" don't see much use today’s modern computer controlled and mixed sound effects engines in music production.

Leon Theremin's instrument

Playing the Ondes Martenot

The score for Ghostbusters ranges from light-hearted and whimsical to eerie and foreboding in an instant and back again, much the same way as the movie does, and is just as entertaining by itself as the movie is on the silver screen. Elmer Bernstein truly knocked this one out and made a score just as memorable as the movie it was written for! I highly recommend adding this score to your immediate download queue as soon as you can.

I'll wrap this article up right there! Let me know how you like the score (whether it's your first listen or hundredth), or if you have a suggestion for a movie score I should review in the future  down in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

=Opaque=

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